Young endurance training starting age in non-elite athletes is associated with higher proximal aortic distensibility.

Objective: Decreased proximal aortic distensibility (AD) is known to significantly predict all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events among individuals without overt cardiovascular disease. This cross-sectional study investigated the association of endurance training (ET) parameters, namely, ET starting age, ET years and yearly ET volume with AD in non-elite endurance athletes.

Methods: Healthy, normotensive, male Caucasian participants of a 10-mile race were assessed with a 2D echocardiogram and comprehensive interview.

Age at start of endurance training is associated with patterns of left ventricular hypertrophy in middle-aged runners.

Background: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a physiological adaptation to long-term endurance training. We investigated the impact of age at start of endurance training on LV geometry in a cohort of male, middle-aged, non-elite endurance athletes.

Methods: A total of 121 healthy, normotensive, Caucasian participants of a 10-mile race were recruited and assessed with an echocardiogram and a comprehensive interview.

Exercise-induced cardiac remodeling in non-elite endurance athletes: Comparison of 2-tiered and 4-tiered classification of left ventricular hypertrophy.

Background: Long-term endurance sport practice leads to eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). We aimed to compare the new 4-tiered classification (4TC) for LVH with the established 2-tiered classification (2TC) in a cohort of normotensive non-elite endurance athletes.

Methods: Male participants of a 10-mile race were recruited and included when blood pressure (BP) was normal (<140/90 mmHg).